Signal horn



F b- 24, 1931 H. L. MARINDIN I 1,794,308

S I GNAL HORN Filed Dec. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 154mm L. Mar/170? BY W iTTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1931'. H. L. MARINDIN SIGNAL HORN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dgc. 5. 1927 I I N V EN TOR. fizflm' L. [Va/1770277 33 W Miami A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 t7943ee STATES rAT E r @FFEQE HENRI L. IYEARINDIN', OF VJATERTOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO BZOTO METER GiLUGE & EQUIPMENT CORPORATION; LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SIGNAL HORN Application filedyD ecembgr 3,192 seriaim. 237,377.

This invention relates to acoustical signalling devices such for example as Warning horns used on vehicles and boats, and has among its object the provisionor an improred durable construction for the desired purposes which will" give a suitable warning signal, the intensity and characteristics of which may be accurately controlled.

Various other specific objects features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given belowytaken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate, merely by way'of example, one embodiment ofthe invention.

' The invention consists inrsuch novel features, arrangements and combinations as may be shown and described in connection withthe device herein disclosechby Way of example, as illustrative ofa bodiment. v i v In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly cut away of an electrically actuated horn embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of a part of the horn shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 33 of Fig. 2; i Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of the 'electro-niagnetic actuating device and connections which may be embodied in the horn as shown; V

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a portionof the electro-magnetic structure such as'used in the horn shown;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along. line G6 of Fig. 5'and showing additional parts in section; and.

.F 1g. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing portions of the current interrupterdevice u'sed-in the horn.

Thehorn illustrated herewith is particularly adaptable for'use on ant'oniobiles, motor boats or in other places where a de'pendable warning signal is desired which can be readily localized by the human ear and which at the same time will give a somewhat musicaltone having pleasing characteristics in so preferred emfar as is' consistent with giving an ,eflective warning;

The structure may comprise a housing, as at' l O, having a generally flat circular charm-- ber111p rovidedpreferably with a single sound outlet, as'at 12, in substantially direct air communication with'the chamber spaces.

The sound outlet may cooperate with conventionalhornmembers as at 1 3.

/V'1th1n'the chamber 11 apair of complementary" v bratory members comprising sheet'metal discs or diaphragms' 14 and 15,

maybe mounted in face'to face relationship; and secured together for -lsul'astantlally" form.

ing complete enclosure for enveloping the operating parts. 5 As indicated in Fig. 2, the discs 14 and 15arepref'erably formed with concentric corrugations to increase their flexibility and also their desirable vibratory characteristics. The corrugations provide an effective increase in area of the dia-' phragms without enlarging the diameters thereof and furthermorepermit theelectromagnetic actuating parts, rigidly mounted at the centers of'th'e diaphragms as hereinafter described, to move more freely back and forth without bending strains and thus also making possible higher degree ofper fectio-n of operation of the current interrupter which is actuated conjointly by the two diaphragms, as hereinafter explained.

Th'e'peripheral edges of the discs as shown may comprise'inwardly directed flange portions, as at 16, terminating in outwardly directed and abutting flange portions 17. Between the abutting flange portions 17; two or more layers of insulating materialorgasket members," as at 18, may be placed. "The flanges 17 may be secured together by a number ofscrews, as at 19, and/or by a number of supporting bolts, as at QO passing through the-Walls at the periphery of the chamber 11-, as best shown in Fig. 2. Suitablewasher members 21 may be placed upon the bolts to retain the supported vibratory members in the desired position substantially centrally of the chamber '11. The chamber 11 may be conveniently formed of two parts 22 and 28 slidably fitted attheir peripheries at 24L and held'together by the bolts 20, some of which extend from the flanges 17 through the member 10, while others extend oppositely from the flanges 17 through member 11.

With the vibratory members supportedas above described, the sound outlet 12 is in air communication not only with the vibratory disc 15 but also with the disc 14 by reason of the peripheral spaces, as at 25, extend ing around the flanges 17.

' The electro-magnetic actuated means may comprise a pair of cooperating laminated core members 26 and 27 mounted respectively upon the vibratory discs 14 and 15 The ar-.

rangement of the laminations may be as indicated in Fig. 4, and the same may be rigidly secured to the Vibratory discs as by a'pair of angle strips, as at 28 and 29, embracing the laminations therebetween and having areas, as at 30, riveted through the vibratory discs. It will be observed that with this construction the edges of the laminations may be permitted to rest directly upon the vibratory discs, and if desired the discs may form a continuation of the magnetic path, and in any event the occurrence of air gaps of uncertain dimensions may be prevented between the discs and the laminations, thus insuring'uniformity of the product essential for predetermined tone qualities. 1 At the center portions of the outside faces of the vibratory discs 14 and 15 rigid supplemental disc members, as at 31 and 32, may be riveted, the same rivets serving also to secure the angle strips 28 as above referred to.

'lfdesired, the disc 15 may be provided with parts on disc 14. However, as a result of the small differences in shape and weight of the various small parts attached of these two diaphragms, a number'of relatively musical overtones and some relatively sharp noises will be produced, glvmg a composite signal, the location of which is muchmore readily and quickly ascertained by the human car than is the case with pure musical tones. The sounds thus produced are all combined and efficiently discharged through the slngle outlet 12, giving a very effective signal.

The electrical operating circuit may comprise an insulated binding post 33extending through the walls of the chamber 11 to the flanges 17 and there brought into electrical contact with, and riveted through, a

strip. of resilient conductive material 34, which is embracedbetween gasket members 18 and extends toward the center of the enclosure formed by the discs 14 and 15. At its inner end, the strip 34 may be provided with a. nondeteriorating contact 35 for cooperation with a similar contact 36 supported upon a resilient conductive strip 37. The strip 37 may comprise one of anumber of interrupter parts which are substantially rigidly secured as by screws 38, to a lug 39, forming a part of one of the angle strips 28.

The resiliently supported cooperating contacts 35 and 36 provide a means for bringing the electric circuit connection from the non-vibrating parts .ofthe device to the highly vibratory center portions but without the use of a continuous metallic conductor. 7 It has been found that, especially with extensive'use, a continuous metallic conductor-for such purpose, even though highly flexible, is eventually subject to breakage due to fatigue of the metal. Or if a continuous metalic conductor is used of sufficient dimensions to insure durability, the vibratory characteristicsof the horn will be seriously interfered with. On the other hand, the cooperating contacts 35 and 36 are made to have a substantially rocking and wiping engagement togive a permanent connection without affecting the vibration ofthe diaphragmslor the tone characteristics of the horn in any objectionable manner. These contacts .are kept clean and serviceable by the wipingaction. 1 :7 I,

The core members 26 and 27 may be energized by a coil 40. secured to the face of core member 26 asiby lugs 41 and 42. The lug 41 may be fastened to the diaphragm 14 as by a screw 43, and the lug 42-may be secured to the disc'26 as bya screw 44;

1 One of the terminals of the coil 40 may be brought out and clamped in electrical contact with the strip 37 by the binding screws 38. The other terminal of the coil may be likewise secured in contact with a contact supporting member 45. These connections may be made and insulated in a conventional manner, as best indicated in Fig. 6. A yielding contact supporting strip 46 may extend from the region of these interrupter parts to a binding post 47 similar to thebinding post33 above described, and connected and supported; in asimilar manner. A pair of non-deteriorating interupter contacts 48 and 49 may be mounted respectively upon the contact supports 45 and 46. These contacts are preferably actuated conjointly by the vibratory movement of the'two diaphragms '14 and 15, and'for this purpose an interrupter controlling screw 50 ;may be threaded through the diaphragm 15 and discs 32 and provided at its inner end with an insulating piece 51 for engagement with the contact supporting strip 46. The contact 48 is subdetermined tone.

The screw 50 may be provided with a lock.

nut 52 and the position of the screw may be readily adjusted through the outlet of the housing chamber to. effect desired adjustment of the interrupter. The lock nut may be held in place by a sheet metal mem b-er 52a having portions embracing the edge ofthe discs 32, and also the sideof the nut 52, as shown, thus retaining the nut against loosening.

To secure a wide range of adjustment of the sound and'tone' characteristics ofv the horn, means are also provided for adjusting the air gap between the core members 26 and 27, Such means may take the form of an adjustable core piece v53 mounted upon a screw member 54 threaded through the laminated core member 27 and extending to an accessible position in the sound outlet. By

turning the screw 54: in or out, the air gap in the magnetic field may be correspondmgly varied between wide limits with a con sequent variation in the natural frequency of vibration of ,theparts. The screws 50 and 54 may be adjusted conjointly during operation of the horn to secure a variety of effects and to secure a high efficiency.

In the manufacture of diaphragms such as 14 and 15 by stamping operations, there will ordinarily be variations of several thousandths of an inch in the width of the flange portion 16, due perhaps to minor variations in thickness or other characteristics of the steel used. However, such variations may be readily compensated for by the adjustable air gap as above described, so that the final effective air gap maybe such as to give the horna pre- Furthermore, the adjustable air gap renders unnecessary any of the refinements of manufacture which might otherwise be necessary to secure substantially absolute uniformity of parts.

As to constructional features which are not herein specifically described in full, the specification of the copending application of Ralph 0. Hood, Serial No. 12,423, filed February 28, 1925, Acoustic signalling devices, may be followed, if desired. It will be understood that this invention, according to certain of its phases, is applicable to acoustical devices genplurality of pressed abuttin contacts; 7

era1ly,-*as well as to warning horns suchas in tlie alr't after understanding the invention,

' that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the mvention audit-1s intended therefor'ein the appended claims to coverall' such changes and modifications. What is cl'ajimed as new anddeslred to'be securedby Lettersra'tent'of the United States ing highly vibratory members, a plurality'of sults, it will be understood by those skilled so 1. An electro-magneticstructure compriselectriccurrent leads mounted upon a, relatijvely fixed-support, and-means for electri- -call-y connecting said leads to the a-ctuatin' 'g me nest the vibratory structure comprising a pairs of cooperating spring 2, Anelectro-magnetic structure compris- "ing-highly vibrat ofyfmembers, a'plurality of 9 a 2 electric current leads jmoiinte'dupona relativ'ely fixedsupport,--a'ndmeans for electr1- cally'connecting said leads to the actuating means of the vibratory structure comprising i i a plurality of pairs of cooperating springa,-?

pressed abutting contacts, one of said pairs of contacts comprising a circuit interrupter operated by the vibratory parts.

3. An acoustical signalling device comprising a pair of opposed vibratoryv diaphragms,

electro-magnetic actuating means therefor mounted to vibrate therewith, and means for conducting current from a fixed terminal to said v bratory parts comprislng a pair of cooperating spring pressed abutting contacts;

in substantially continuous electrical contacting relationship, notwithstanding the vibration of the parts.

4:. An acoustical signalling device comprising a housing chamber, a vibratory dia-:; phragm structure and electro-magnetic opef- 'ating parts therefor mounted within said chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof, and a conductor terminal and binding post '1 member rigidly secured to a non-vibratory ing a pair of complementary vibratory dia-' phragms joined together at their peripheries and forming an enclosure for receiving an electr-o-magnetlc actuating means, a housing chamber enveloping said enclosure and with 1 its walls spaced therefrom, a conductor terminal and binding post member rigidly secured to the joined peripheries of said diaphragms and extending therefrom through thewall of said chamber to the exterior thereof, and an electrical connection from said member running to said actuatingmeans V 6. An electro-magnetic signalling device comprising a vibratory diaphragm, an actuating coil andpole piece mounted at the center'thereof, a group of interrupter parts rigidly secured in respect to said pole piece,and' common means for clamping said parts and said coil in respect to the diaphragm. r 7; An electro-magnetic' signalling device comprising a relatively flat substantially circular housing chamber formedof two parts joined at their peripheries, a pair of complementary vibratory diaphragms joined at their 15 peripheries, electro-magnetic actuating means "within the enclosure formed by said dia I 'phragms, said diaphragms, being substan- -tially circular and arranged coaxiallywith said. chamber, but spaced from the Walls thereof, and supporting posts secured to the I V joined peripheries of said diaphragms, certain of said posts being secured to one 'ofsaid housing parts and others to the other housing part.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name. to this specification. p HENRI-1L. MARINDIN;

GERTIFiCATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patsni No. 3,7943%. Granted February 24, 1931, to

HENRE L. MARINDIN.

It is heresy certified that ermr appears in the printed specification of the asovs numbers patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 106, for "flisc 2-6" road diaphragm 14; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent ()ifise.

Signed and seaied this 17th day of March, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

